After a long wait, the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana will face off on Friday (today) as both countries battle for a spot in the women’s football event at the 2024 Olympic Games ticket in Paris.
Nigeria and South Africa, unarguably the two best women’s football squads in Africa, clash in a two-legged affair as they battle for one of the two tickets from Africa for the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event.
The first of two matches will take place Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, followed by the second contest Tuesday, April 9 in Pretoria, South Africa.
While Nigeria is looking to make a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence, having last featured in the women’s football event at the Olympics in Beijing 2008, the South Africans are eager to put the 2020 disappointment behind them after failing to qualify for the event in Tokyo.
With so much to play for, today’s clash is set to be one of the most mouth-watering clashes in Africa’s women’s football.
Speaking ahead of the game, Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, said the team was determined to put an end to the long wait.
“From the time we played Ethiopia, we have been committed to seeing these qualification series through,” Ajibade said.
“Our objective has always been to win the slot for the Olympics. Most of us in the team are yet to play at the Olympics and this is a big issue for us. We want to be there in Paris.
“There are a couple of issues the Super Falcons have to sort out with Banyana Banyana. However, that is not the motivation this time. The motivation is qualifying for the Olympics.”
